Arron Banks and other leave campaigners being investigated over 'multiple suspected offences'

A number of companies and individuals have been referred to the National Crime Agency for suspected criminal offences committed during the EU referendum.

Following its investigation into funding for the 2016 EU referendum, the Electoral Commission has referred: Better for the Country, the organisation that ran the Leave.EU referendum campaign; Arron Banks; Leave.EU; Elizabeth Bilney; and other associated companies and individuals. The National Crime Agency has now launched a criminal investigation.

The investigation focused on £2m reported to have been loaned to Better for the Country by Arron Banks and his group of insurance companies and a further £6m reported to have been given to the organisation, on behalf of Leave.EU, by Arron Banks alone.

£2.9m of this money was used to fund referendum spending on behalf of Leave.EU and donations to other campaign groups during the EU referendum.

Following its investigation, the Commission has reasonable grounds to suspect that:

- Mr Banks was not the true source of the £8m loans made to Better for the Country.

- Loans to Better for the Country, on behalf of Leave.EU, involved a non-qualifying or impermissible company – Rock Holdings Limited, which is incorporated in the Isle of Man.

- Arron Banks, Elizabeth Bilney and others involved in Better for the Country, Leave.EU and associated companies concealed the true details of these financial transactions.

- A number of criminal offences may have been committed.

Due to multiple suspected offences, some of which fall outside the Commission’s remit, the Commission has referred this matter and handed its evidence to the National Crime Agency.

Nothing is proven, yet, but given that both Leave.EU and Vote Leave are under criminal investigation, it seems compelling to put the whole Brexit process on hold until the facts are known.

I thought you were telling me you didn't believe people voted for or against campaign groups??

Got an opinion on the actual topic?

I think any law breaking by these right wing creatures must be dealt with accordingly.

To imply (as some have done) that it invalidates the referendum is risible however.

If proven, of course it invalidates it. On what universe can you say "well it was rigged but the people have spoken, let's carry on". I mean, other than leavers who are desperate to get their win and refuse to have any re-vote on the basis that they'd probably lose.

Nothing is proven, yet, but given that both Leave.EU and Vote Leave are under criminal investigation, it seems compelling to put the whole Brexit process on hold until the facts are known.

I thought you were telling me you didn't believe people voted for or against campaign groups??

Got an opinion on the actual topic?

I think any law breaking by these right wing creatures must be dealt with accordingly.

To imply (as some have done) that it invalidates the referendum is risible however.

If proven, of course it invalidates it. On what universe can you say "well it was rigged but the people have spoken, let's carry on". I mean, other than leavers who are desperate to get their win and refuse to have any re-vote on the basis that they'd probably lose.

Why?

Again, we weren't voting for a campaign group but on a bilateral question as to membership of the EU.